Latos struggles again, but Black 'not worried'

San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, March 1, 2011 in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
— AP

San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, March 1, 2011 in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
/ AP

PEORIA, Ariz.  After his second spring training start Sunday, Mat Latos walked off the mound, stepped into the Padres dugout and fired his glove against the dugout wall.

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And that about summarizes his outing in the Padres’ 7-6 victory over the Oakland A’s.

After walking four batters in 1 1/3 innings in his spring debut, Latos struggled again. His line Sunday: two-thirds of an inning, 38 pitches, two hits, two walks, three runs — all earned. His spring training ERA: 13.50.

As happened occasionally in 2010, Latos’ emotional composure was a problem. And as happened last year, he took issue with an umpire’s strike zone. This time it was Ron Kulpa's.

“I feel like I was throwing a lot more strikes than what was being called,” Latos said. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I saw some frustration as the inning moved forward, and you can’t pitch like that,” manager Bud Black said. “Mat again was a little bit erratic. He just didn’t look comfortable. We’re going to have to make sure we iron out some things in the bullpen.”

“He just seemed out of sorts.” said catcher Gregg Zaun. “He was dynamite in the bullpen. He was very relaxed. It happens to young guys with good stuff. They want to be nasty.”

Latos set a major league record in 2010 when he allowed two runs or fewer in 15 straight starts while pitching a minimum of five innings. He walked only 50 batters in 184 2/3 innings.

In two spring training outings, he’s walked six in two innings.

“He’s healthy. His stuff is fine. We’re not worried,” Black said.

Latos turned 23 in December, and Black thinks his emotional maturation is still a work in progress.

“For some players, it takes longer than others to get those emotions channeled,” the manager said.

Latos was short, direct and noticeably upset when assessing his latest outing.

“I was fine today,” he said.

When asked about trying to correct a mechanical flaw from his first outing, he said: “I made the correction. I was staying back. I executed what I needed to do. I was finishing, following through.”